Trial Date Set for Pair Connected to 2019 Shooting, Paralyzing 13-Year-Old Girl

By Connor Driscoll [former] - July 6, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting |

Two Baltimore residents were given a trial date on July 6 in connection to a 2019 shooting that left a 13-year-old girl paralyzed.

On Tuesday, two co-defendants appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland during reception court to schedule a trial date for their alleged involvement in the attempted murder in November 2019. 

Baltimore residents Antwan Newton, 21, and Lasheena Stewart, 38, face numerous charges related to the incident. 

Newton is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, conspiracy to commit first and second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first and second-degree assault, firearm use in a violent crime, carrying a handgun, and discharging a handgun.

Stewart is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, conspiracy to commit first and second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first and second-degree assault, and firearm use in a violent crime.

The prosecution offered both defendants life in prison, suspending all but 40 years. Newton’s defense attorney, Chris Purpura, rejected the deal on her client’s behalf, as did Stewart’s defense attorney, Roya Hanna.

Newton and Stewart are scheduled to be tried jointly in a trial beginning on Oct. 4 and possibly lasting through Oct. 8.

According to the Baltimore Sun, police said the victim was shot in the spine over a “school dispute.” Prosecutors allege that Newton pulled the trigger and was encouraged to do so by Stewart, who yelled “shoot.” 

Officers responded to the 700 block of E. 20th Street, where they found the victim who had been shot in the back.

In January 2020, the Baltimore Sun reported that doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital said the victim was paralyzed from the waist down.

Editor’s note: A jury found Antwan Newton not guilty on July 14. Lasheena Stewart’s case was dismissed on July 14.